Gung-Hay-Fat-Choy !! February 9, 2005 is the first day of the Chinese New Year.

The Chinese calendar is thousands of years old, and early in February people across the world will be saying Gung-Hay-Fat-Choy to wish each other a Happy New Year!!

"Hurrah!!" You say, "but what does it have to do with cats?"

Well it is also traditional to celebrate Chinese New Year with fireworks!!

Many countries have strict rules on the types of fireworks available. This does reduce the problems somewhat, but a few invariably slip through the net.

A couple of years ago I visited a Chinese restaurant on Chinese New Year. I was more than a little taken aback to see (and then hear) a 10 foot string of authentic Chinese firecrackers, spitting and popping their way up the outside of the building, leaving a trail of blackened scorch marks behind them.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against fireworks or celebrating tradition, but I will definitely be keeping the cats in for a couple of nights around Feb 9 th !!